“You know he’s going to get some points,” said LeBeau, the Steelers’ defensive coordinator. “But you just have to keep him from getting enough to beat you. If he gets 17 or so points and your team wins the game, then you did OK.”

So, when the Steelers play New England on Sunday, they expect Moss to get his fair share of catches. But it will be paramount for the Steelers’ secondary to keep Moss from doing what he did last week.

In a 48-28 rout of the Dolphins, Moss caught eight passes for 123 yards and three touchdowns, all season high.

“I’m always amazed at what Randy can do,” Pats quarterback Matt Cassel said. “He’s a special player and those guys don’t come around very often. I’m lucky to be on the same team as him.”

Now in his 11th season, Moss hasn’t been putting up the numbers he did a year ago when he caught 98 passes for 1,493 yards and NFL record 23 TD passes. He and Steelers wideout Hines Ward are among four players tied for 19th in the league with 54 catches. But Moss is tied for second with eight TD grabs.

For his career, which included previous stints with the Vikings and Raiders, Moss now has 132 TD catches. He’s third on the al-time list behind future Hall of Famer Jerry Rice (197) and Terrell Owens (136) of the Dallas Cowboys.

“Moss is always been one of the top guys in the league,” Steelers cornerback Bryant McFadden said. “He can change a game at any point. He always has respect from ant defensive backfields he may face.”

Strangely enough, the Dolphins didn’t respect Moss enough last week. In so many instances, the Dolphins decided to guard Moss with one cornerback. Maybe the Dolphins were just as concerned with the Patriots’ other wide receiver, Wes Welker.

Yes, Welker ranks second in the league with 80 catches. He’s a terrific weapon who has a knack for turning short catches into long gains. But at 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, Welker isn’t in the same league as Moss.

With his size (6-foot-4 and 210 pounds), his speed and his athleticism, Moss will win most one-on-one match-ups with any defensive back he faces.

“If Randy Moss gets single coverage, if he gets matched up one-on-one downfield with defenders, then there are big problems,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “It’s been that way for the 11 years he’s been in the league. Nothing has changed.

“Moss has done a nice job over the years of making quarterbacks look good. All you have to do is throw the ball in his general area. That’s not devaluing what Cassel does. It’s just the facts. If you have Randy Moss one-on-one with somebody, just throw the ball in his general area. It doesn’t require a great deal of accuracy or touch. He’ll come down with the football.”

In other words, expect Moss to get a lot of double coverage Sunday from the Steelers.

X’s and O’s

Steelers RB Willie Parker practiced for the second straight day Friday but is only listed as questionable on Tomlin’s injury report. Questionable in the NFL means a player has a 50/50 chance of playing. Parker aggravated a previously injury knee in the Nov. 20 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. … CB Bryant McFadden (arm) and CB Deshea Townsend (hamstring) are also listed as questionable. Townsend said he will definitely play. McFadden may be a game-time decision.

I just don't see Moss having a big game against our defense. Ike will be just fine shadowing him all game and will probably get help from Clark over the top. And I definitely don't see Moss or any other WR getting any big yardage catches against us. If we get back McFadden and Townsend that would really help as well.